Hurricanes pause on deals: Carolina sends winger to Penguins

By Bob Sutton / Times-News

Published: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 12:48 AM.

The Hurricanes added Bergeron by sending forward Adam Hall, who had been claimed off waivers a few weeks earlier, back to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Hurricanes also gave up a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft.

Bergeron is expected to give the much-suffering Carolina power play a boost. He provided immediate signs of that by making a pass to set up one of Jiri Tlusty’s power-play goal just hours after he was acquired.

“It has been a fun day, a tough day, a weird day,” Bergeron said after the game. “I’m very happy to be here, that’s the main thing. … I’m excited. You can’t tell right now.”

He’ll be in another awkward situation when he plays against his former team tonight as Tampa Bay visits.

RALEIGH – Nothing looked too good for the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline, so they held off making any last-minute additions Wednesday.

“There weren’t any deals that made sense for us,” general manager Jim Rutherford said. “… I don’t think there were as many players available that could really impact and make a difference in what we’re doing.”

So the Hurricanes will have to make do with what they have as they try to climb into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Their one move involved a roster reduction.

Left wing Jussi Jokinen was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In turn, the Hurricanes will hold Pittsburgh’s sixth- or seventh-round draft pick in June. The Hurricanes must retain an undisclosed portion of Jokinen’s salary.

o this leaves the acquisition of defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron a day earlier as Carolina’s main roster enhancement near the trade deadline.

The Hurricanes have lost nine of their last 10 games, yet remain within range of first place in the Southeast Division and could benefit from games in hand compared to other divisional rivals.

“This is about as tough of a position to be in,” Rutherford said. “A team on a big losing streak, we know we’re a better team than we’re playing. Not having any deal that made sense for us that could give us a little boost.”

Rutherford said it wouldn’t have been practical to give up valuable prospects for any of the potential players the Hurricanes might have brought in through a trade.

Jokinen, who produced 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 33 games this season, cleared waivers last week and played four more games for the Hurricanes. He spent five seasons with the Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes are assessing the payroll carefully after last week rewarding winger Alexander Semin a contract extension that will pay him $7 million annually through the 2017-18 season. Semin, 29, is in his eighth NHL season, but his first with Carolina.

Earlier in the week, speculation swirled about the possibility of defenseman Jamie McBain departing in a trade. Then he was a healthy scratch for Tuesday night’s loss to Washington.

But with defenseman Joni Pitkanen taken off the ice on a stretcher with a lower leg or ankle injury in the second period Tuesday night, it’s possible that McBain might be more valuable with the Hurricanes. The team is still awaiting defenseman Justin Faulk’s return to action from an injury.

The Hurricanes added Bergeron by sending forward Adam Hall, who had been claimed off waivers a few weeks earlier, back to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Hurricanes also gave up a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft.

Bergeron is expected to give the much-suffering Carolina power play a boost. He provided immediate signs of that by making a pass to set up one of Jiri Tlusty’s power-play goal just hours after he was acquired.

“It has been a fun day, a tough day, a weird day,” Bergeron said after the game. “I’m very happy to be here, that’s the main thing. … I’m excited. You can’t tell right now.”

He’ll be in another awkward situation when he plays against his former team tonight as Tampa Bay visits.